On Saturday morning, Kerry’s alarm went off at 9. She took a shower and picked out her outfit. She decided on faded green American Eagle shorts and a white tank top. Kerry put her bathing suit and change of clothes in a denim bag and went downstairs to walk the dog and eat a chocolate muffin. Her dad was sitting at the table reading the newspaper. Seeing him up at 9:30 took her by surprise.

Kerry: Morning daddy, what are you doing up now? Its Saturday.

Stu: I have to go to court.

Kerry: Oh, ok. Well good luck dad, I’m going to Greg’s house. I’ll be home later tonight. Tell mom I said bye.

Stu: Mmhmm. Bye Ker.

Kerry threw her bag on the passenger seat and sped off down the street.

Greg’s mom left a note on the counter and she didn’t want to wake him up. Big mistake. If he wanted, Greg could sleep all day. At 10:20 he woke up to the door bell ringing for the 5^th time. He ran downstairs, still only in his boxers, and opened up the door. Kerry was standing there with a smile on her face, then got confused. Did he forget I was coming over?

Kerry: Hey?

Greg: Oh gosh. No one woke me up, I’m sorry. I figured my mom would wake me up, or at least one of my sisters. Come on in and I’ll go get dressed.

He led her into the house and she sat patiently while he went back upstairs.

Greg was running around his room, making his bed, tidying up the bathroom and feeling a little embarrassed.

Meanwhile, Kerry gave up her comfortable position on the couch to look at the baby pictures scattered around the living room. there was one of Greg, at about age 8, holding a guitar that looked bigger than his body. There was another one of him holding his, at the time, baby sister. Then she saw a family portrait of the Raposo family. They look so happy and loving.

Greg came running downstairs and into the room. he saw what Kerry was looking at and blushed.

Greg: I keep asking her to get rid of all these pictures, but my mom wont listen to me.

Kerry: Aww, but you were so cute!

She smiled and greeted him with a simple kiss.

Greg: You hungry? Cause I’m starved.

Kerry: Naw, I already had something.

Greg walked into the kitchen and got out a box of Wheaties and Milk.

Kerry: Wheaties?

Greg: Breakfast of champions. What, you think working out gets me looking like this? Its all about the Wheaties.

Kerry (laughs): Whatever you say babe.

She sat down at the table across from him and watched him eating.

Greg, between spoonfuls: Is there something on my face?

Kerry: Nope

Greg: Would you tell me if there was?

Kerry: Nope! Haha

After Greg ate, he grabbed Kerry’s hand and led her outside. There was a huge oak tree with a tire swing hanging from it that Mr. Raposo put up years ago. Kerry put her legs through and without thinking, Greg began pushing.

Kerry: I feel like I’m in the clouds when I swing up.

Greg: I feel like I’m in the clouds when I’m with you.

Kerry smiled, but Greg couldn’t see it. He slowed down the swing, and once it lost momentum, she got out and started running around the yard. He realized what she was doing.

Greg: Oh so you want me to catch you?

He asked playfully.

Kerry: You’ll never catch me!

When Kerry was running, one foot wanted to go one way, and the other the opposite direction, and she ended up falling. Greg slowed down and stood over her.

Greg: And you said I’d never catch you…

Kerry held up her hand so he could help her up, instead when he was about to, she let go, making him fall. She looked down at him, then sat over him straddling his body on the ground.

Kerry: Looks like I got you this time.

She smiled then started kissing him. They were messing around and making out in the grass when it started to thunder.

They both ran inside the house and picked out a movie. They chose “10 Things I Hate About You” and cuddled up on the couch together. by the time the movie was over, it was already 3:30.

While Kerry was having the best time with Greg, Jenny was about to click “send”. But before she did so, she reread the email one more time:

Kate & Kerry:

im sure by the time u read this ill be long gone. im tired of the same old thing all the time. my family has forgotten im there, and it just hurts whenever i talk to Chris. and when it comes to u 2, its like im not even there. so i figured id just leave. dont tell anyone about this email, theyll figure it out sometime.

xox-luv always

Jen

ps: heres a song thatll maybe help u understand better…

I am
little bit of loneliness
a little bit of disregard
a handful of complaints
but I can't help the fact
that everyone can see these scars
I am
what I want you to want
what I want you to feel
but it's like
no matter what I do
I can't convince you
to just believe this is real
so I let go
watching you
turn your back like you always do
face away and pretend that I’m not
but I’ll be here
cause you're all I got
I am
a little bit insecure
a little unconfident
cause you don't understand
I do what I can
but sometimes I don't make sense
I am
what you never want to say
but I’ve never had a doubt
it's like no matter what I do
I can't convince you
for once just to hear me out
so I let go
watching you
turn your back like you always do
face away and pretend that I’m not
but I’ll be here
cause you're all I got
I can't feel
the way I did before
don't turn your back on me
I won't be ignored
time won't heal
this damage anymore
don't turn your back on me
I won't be ignored
no
hear me out now
you're gonna listen to me
like it or not
right now

i feel so alone.

Jen sent it to Kate and Kerry, hoping they wouldn’t get it for a while, and it was her lucky day. Kerry was busy with Greg and Kate was at her younger cousin’s dance recital until 6. So with a few bags of clothes, and her wallet with credit card in it, Jen got in the car and left. Her parents weren’t home, so she didn’t need to come up with any excuses as to why she had bags of clothes and other necessities.

If only Kate or Kerry realized what was going on. Instead, Kate was watching about 30 10 year olds doing a hip hop, and Kerry was making out with her boyfriend.

While Kerry was making out with Greg, she knew where they were going, and she didn’t want to do that today. She pulled back and stood up.

Greg: What’s wrong?

Kerry: Nothing, uh, I’m just a little hungry.

Greg: Oh, ok. Well I don’t exactly cook, but I’ll order a pizza, that ok?

Kerry: Yeah, that’s fine.

It took 20 minutes for the pizza to get there and they just talked while waiting. After dinner it was about 7, and getting dark. Greg had told Kerry about the hot tub a few days ago, so she brought her bathing suit with her. Kerry brought up the idea to him, and he went outside to turn it on. While he was outside, Kerry changed into her Burberry bikini. He smiled when he came back in.

Greg: I want to kiss you so bad right now, but I’ll save it till later.

He went up to his bed room and she checked her cell to see if anyone called or texted. There was nothing there so she went outside and got into the hot tub. Greg went outside wearing board shorts and you could see the rim of his boxers from underneath at the top. He stepped in and sat next to Kerry with his arm around her.

Kerry: What about that kiss now?

Greg: Oh I guess so…if I have to…

He said like a little kid. He’s so cute, she laughed in her head.

While they were fooling around in the hot tub, Kerry’s cell was ringing like crazy.

Kate got home from the recital and logged on to check email. She had one from Delta for sky miles, one from her brother, and one from Jen. She opened up Jen’s, expecting something completely different than what she got. Her initial reaction was to call Jen’s house, but then she figured no one would be there, so she called Kerry’s house, forgetting she wasn’t home. After leaving 3 emergency messages, she tried the cell. After calling 13 times, Kate gave up. Kerry was with Greg, and not wanting to talk to Kate. That didn’t mean Kate was any calmer than before. As a matter of fact she was even more scared. She speed dialed Jen’s cell but got no answer.

Jen had her convertible top down and she was relieved, sad, and excited at the same time. When “freekaleek” started playing on her cell phone and Kate’s name popped up, Jen’s excitement was put on hold. Do I answer it? What would I say, anyways? Instead she just let it ring and ring.

After getting no answer on Jen’s cell, Kate found Chris’s number in her phone. It rang a few times before he picked up.

Chris: Hello?

Kate: Chris, it’s Kate.

Chris: Hey Kate, what’s wrong?

Kate: It’s Jenny! Have you talked to her lately?

Chris: Actually no. I was gonna call later but-

Kate: But nothing! She ran away and it’s our fault.

Chris: Woah Woah Woah. Lets not blame me on this

Kate: She said so in the email, so yes, I will blame you. but its just as much my fault. We’ve all kind of forgotten about her and not been treating her well. But I’m worried she’s gone for good and her parents don’t know and-

Chris: I’m sure she’s fine, she’ll be back once she realizes she cant be gone for too long.

Kate: I cant believe you Chris! How can you be so casual about this! SHE RAN AWAY!!!!!

Kate hung up on him and called Jen’s house. Luckily she got Mrs. Bourne and Kate explained everything.

Kerry was looking up at the stars in the hot tub while Greg softly kissed her neck.

Kerry: It’s so amazing, look at all of them up there. Hey did you ever wonder why stars aren’t colorful?

Greg: You scare me sometimes with the weird things you think of.

They both laughed.

Around 9:30 Kerry decided she should go. She put on her clothes, but Greg stayed in his swim suit. Kerry led him to her car where they stood flirting, kissing, and talking for almost 10 minutes. After saying good bye, she left.

Greg went back into the house but not 5 minutes later his family walked in. Daniella was asleep in her dad’s arms and Nicole started blabbing to Greg all about the play they saw. his parents took them to see “Beauty and the Beast”. Amanda sort of disappeared upstairs.

When Kerry got home she saw 5 missed calls and 3 voice messages on her line. It was Kate, but she was talking so fast Kerry could hardly understand it. Then she realized she probably missed a bunch of calls on her cell. 13 in fact. It was something about Jen but she still couldn’t make it all out. Something about email, Jen, her car, leaving. But Kerry didn’t put it all together. she went over to the computer in the game room and read the email.

“How did we not see this coming,” she whispered.